Oaks Quercus frainetto
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Oaks:
- Phonetic Spelling
- KWER-kus frain-ET-oh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Italian Oak is native to Europe and can reach 100 ft tall in its native habitat. It is erect with a high, oval canopy and has large, attractive, deeply lobed leaves. It grows in heavy acidic soils and is native to the mountainous regions of the Balkans. It will tolerate most soils as long as they are well-drained and acidic.
This tree is cultivated in parks and large gardens in Europe. it can be difficult to find for sale in the USA.
It is a host plant for the larvae of the Imperial moth (Eacles imperialis), as well as numerous butterflies, including Banded hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), Edward's hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), Gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus), White-m hairstreak (Parrhasius malbum), Horace's duskywing (Erynnis horatius), and Juvenalis duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis).
Susceptible to Beetle Borers, Caterpillars, Insect Galls and Scales, Armillaria, Crown Rot, Mistletoe and Root Rot.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Hungarian Crown'
- Quercus 'Schmidt'
Shorter tree
- 'Hungarian Crown'
- 'Hungarian Crown', Quercus 'Schmidt'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Hungarian Crown'
- Quercus 'Schmidt'
Shorter tree
- 'Hungarian Crown'
- 'Hungarian Crown', Quercus 'Schmidt'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Quercus
- Species:
- frainetto
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- SE Europe and Turkey
- Wildlife Value:
- Oak trees support a wide variety of Lepidopteran. You may see Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), which have one flight from June-August everywhere but Florida where they emerge April-May. Edward's Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), has one flight from May-July in the south and June-July in the north. Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), has three to four flights in the south from February-November and two flights in the north from May-September. White-M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album) has three broods in the north from February-October. Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) has three broods in Texas and the deep south from January-November, and two broods in the north from April-September. Juvenal’s Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis) has one brood from April-June, appearing as early as January in Florida. Mildly resistant to deer. Attracts birds and mammals for the acorns.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Nesting
- Edibility:
- Acorns (nuts) are edible after tannins are leached or boiled out
- Dimensions:
- Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 50 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Oval
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- more than 60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 1.25 inch long light brown acorns are borne in groups of 2-5. The rough, scaly, hairy cups enclose 1/3 or more of the nut.
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Flowers:
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Separate male and female flowers on the same tree. Pollen flowers in drooping, elongated clusters
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Lobed
- Sinuate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 6-10 inch long leaves have 7-10 deep parallel lobes. The color is dark green above and pale yellow-green underneath with minute russet hairs. Fall color is an attractive russet.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Ridges
- Bark Plate Shape:
- Square
- Bark Description:
- The bark is first gray and smooth, later brown and fissured.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Terminal:
- Cluster of terminal buds
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The twigs are stout and covered with russet upward pointed hairs.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Shade Tree
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Problems:
- Problem for Horses
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Abdominal pain, constipation then diarrhea (occasionally bloody), depression, frequent urination, discolored urine, jaundice; acorns can obstruct the digestive tract
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Gallotannins, quercitrin, and quercitin.
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Fruits
- Leaves
